Thursday 5 September 1940

Thursday 5 September 1940

Airfield attacks in two phases. Park (CinC No 11 Group) orders special cover for fighter factories.

Night: Continuous activity over southern England.

Weather: Continuing fine and warm with cloud developing later.

Main Activity:

As on previous days, the Luftwaffe effort was divided up into two major attacks, the sub-formations breaking away and heading for their targets after crossing the coast, in order to confuse the defences.

About 1000 hours raids developed over Kent heading for Croydon, Biggin Hill and Eastchurch, while others concentrated on North Weald and Lympne. Fourteen RAF squadrons joined the fight and most of the raiders were diverted before reaching their targets as occurred at Biggin Hill where No. 79 Squadron successfully intercepted.

Just after lunch radar began to track several formations over France, but many came in so high that they were missed by the Observers on the ground and were not plotted on the operations tables. The oil-tanks at Thameshaven were set on fire while Biggin Hill and Detling received further attention.

The bombers dispersed at two o’clock and swarms of Bf 109s patrolled the Channel to see them home, as German losses through being shot down into the sea were becoming too frequent to be ignored.